Categories
Exporter of the Year
We are looking for firms that can demonstrate a first class record in selling products or services internationally.
The judging panel will be looking for evidence of revenue growth in exports - whether an SME or corporate - as well as moving into new territories such as Europe, North America and the Far East.
As a starting point, judges will be looking for firm's whose exports are not only growing but which represent at least 20% of overall turnover.
Business of the Year
The winner of this award will be selected by our judging panel.
Diversity & Inclusion Award
This award recognises organisations for harnessing a truly diverse workforce that excels in their commitment to equality and inclusion across all strands of diversity. The category will cover excellence in all areas of diversity including age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, race and religion.
The judges will be looking for a vanguard in business that can demonstrate an effective inclusion and diversity strategy that goes beyond legal compliance and seeks to add value to an organisation, contributing to employee wellbeing and engagement.
Entries must demonstrate how the business has gone above and beyond their corporate social responsibility, shown commitment and dedication to equality, can exhibit positive results on the organisational culture and prove that they are a true champion of diversity and inclusion.
Workplace equality as more than just policies and practices, it is something that runs through the heart of what a business does.
Entrepreneur of the Year
This award will go to the individual who has made a significant impact on the business world during the past year, either by steering a highly-successful business or by launching a ground-breaking new company or product.
Family Business of the Year
This award is open to first generation family owned companies, multi-generational businesses and publicly owned firms in the Swansea Bay Region in which founding families still hold a significant stake. Our judges will be considering the challenges and achievements of, but not limited to, the past 12 months. The winner will have demonstrated the work that has been done to mitigate (or in some cases, capitalise on) the impact of Covid-19 on people, processes and profit, as well as long-term planning.
Our judges will be looking at the agility of the business for their people and the future. We want to hear about what they have done to protect their business and their people and what is in place to build on in 2021. We also want to hear what they have done that has supported their wider community (so fundraising, for example, or diversification to home deliveries/online ordering).
Tech Business of the Year
The Swansea Bay City Region is home to some of Wales’ leading technology firms. Judges will be looking for a firm driving business success from IP rich technology - from life sciences to fintech.
Firms can be established or pre-revenue - providing they can demonstrate high-growth potential with external equity backing a supporting factor.
Female Tech Talent
An award designed to celebrate the outstanding contribution from a female to Wales’ digital tech scene. It could be a pioneering entrepreneur who has built their business from the ground up to a respected name, or a woman within a company who has become a shining light in digital tech. We want the winner’s story to inspire generations of businesswomen to come. What is so significant about your or the person’s achievements?
Woman in Construction
This award will recognise an outstanding woman in the Swansea Bay City Region’s construction sector.
Judges will be looking not only for excellence in leadership and management, but also an exemplar and champion for encouraging more women to pursue a career in what has been perceived as a male dominated industry.
Medium - Large Business of the Year
This award is open to companies in the Swansea Bay Region with 25 or more employees. The judges will be interested in innovative products, services and processes as well as expansion into new markets and different areas of business activity.
Our judges will be considering the challenges and achievements of, but not limited to, the past six - 12 months. The winner will have also demonstrated the work that has been done to mitigate (or in some cases, capitalise on) the impact of Covid-19 on people, processes and profit, as well as long-term planning. Our judges will also be looking at the agility of the business for their people and the future. We want to hear about what they have done to protect their business and their people and what is in place to build on in 2021. We also want to hear what they have done that has supported their wider community (so fundraising, for example, or diversification to home deliveries/online ordering).
Lifetime Contribution Award
This award will go to the business person who, in the opinion of the judges, has made a considerable, profitable and lasting contribution to the local economy over a period of at least 20 years. This may be awarded to a member of a company or a member of a business organisation.
Small Business of the Year
The Small Business Of The Year Award is open to companies in the Swansea Bay Region with fewer than 25 employees. Our judges will be considering the challenges and achievements of, but not limited to, the past six -12 months.The winner will have demonstrated the work that has been done to mitigate (or in some cases, capitalise on) the impact of Covid-19 on people, processes and profit, as well as long-term planning.
Our judges will be looking at the agility of the business for their people and the future. We want to hear about what they have done to protect their business and their people and what is in place to build on in 2021. We also want to hear what they have done that has supported their wider community (so fundraising, for example, or diversification to home deliveries/online ordering).
Start-Up Business of the Year
The Start-Up Business of The Year award will go to an organisation that has been established within the past two and a half years and demonstrates evidence of entrepreneurship and/or innovation, has defied challenging economic conditions to succeed, grow and thrive and can evidence solid business plans, future growth potential and a determination to succeed.
The judges will take into consideration managerial performance, sales growth, profit achievement, number of people employed and evidence of a satisfied customer base.
Young Business Person of the Year
This award is made to the business person under the age of 30 who best demonstrates ambition, energy, skill and vision, as well as tangible business success. This award is open both to young entrepreneurs that are enjoying success in building their own business and to those employees that have had an outstanding impact in contributing to the successes of a larger organisation.